Method and apparatus for directing the switching of railway cars at yards and terminals



Aug. 29, 1933. G|BB$ 1,924,491

METHOD AND APPARATU s FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING 0F RAILWAY CARS AT YARDS AND TERMINALS Filed April 28, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Leon M. Gibbs ATTORNEYS WITNESS MiXM Aug. 29, L M G B METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING OF RAILWAY CARS AT YARDS AND TERMINALS Filed April 28, 1950 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 6 ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1933. L, GIBBS 1,924,491

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING OF RAILWAY CARS AT YARDS AND TERMINALS Filed April 28, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 1b n/a SHE] "nib E7 INVENTOR 5 1 jug Lean M. Gibbs BY S ATTORNEYs MA M 1.. M. GIBBS Aug. 29, 1933.

1,924,491 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING 0F RAILWAY CARS A'I' YARDS AND TERMINALS Filed April 28, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR Lean M. 6411 12.5

ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1933. L. M. GIBBS 1,924,491

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING 0F RAILWAY CARS AT YARDS AND TERMINALS Filed April 28, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 //l H H3 7' 7 H I I y j J 26 a5 34 Cm A I/II/I/l/ INVENTOR Lam M. 3; bbs

WITNE5 W 6% g I ATTORNEYS Aug. 29, 1933. M @555 1,924,491

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING 0F RAILWAY CARS AT YARD AND TERMINALS Filed April 28, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Le anM. gums WITNESS ATTORNEYS Aug. 2.9, 1933. L. M. GIBBS 1,924,491

PARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHING OF RAILWAY CARS AT YARDS AND TERMINALS 7 Sheets-Sheet '7' METHOD AND AP Filed April 28. 1930 Lawn/[1.6221225 WITNESS terms AND TERMINALS Leon Gibbs, Birmingham," Ala., assignor to 1 Corporatioma corporation of Ala Teleswitch me Application April gs; misera- No. 445,103 I '33 Claims. (01. lei-=26 My present invention relates to a new and improved method and apparatus'for directing the switching'of railway; cars at switch yards and terminals, and has for itsgpa'rticular object to which form thesubject' matter of Letters Patent of the United States, Nos. 1,741,229 and 1,753,602;- In the Letters Patent aforesaid it was con templated that theswitchingwould be carried out under the direct control of the yard master by providing in his ofiice a dummy yard, comprising miniature tracks and switches corresponding in arrangement to i the tracks and switches inthe railway yard orterrninal, and a I j" plurality of dummies representative of railway cars, which are moved about the dummy} yard to follow the movements of their respective railway cars, each dummy carrying suitable indicia descriptive of its respective car, its contents, destination, etc.

contemplated that the miniature apparatus in the yard masters omce should be automatic in its functioning so that it would cause the dum- 7 mice to follow automaticallybackwards and forwards and from track totrack of the dummy yard the movements of their respective railway cars in the main yard, thereby displaying in the dummy yard at all times, by the position of dum O mics therein, the position and identity of cars in the railway yard. In the operation of'such a system I selected the car wheels, 1. e., one wheel on each axle'wnich I term a control wheel, and.

which is typical of a control element on a railway vehicle, to set in operation the necessary automatic agenies to move the dummies from one to another section of the dummy yard tracks and this necessitated the dummies being equipped with a number of feed elements correspondingwith the number of control wheels'or elements on their respective railway cars.

In connection with the automatic operation of the dummy yard, it has been found necessary to perfect storage yard facilities for the dummies and to this end my present invention contemplates the provisionof storage tracks, preferably equal in capacity to the dummy yard, which are preferably arranged to permit an initial auto- In tic set up, on approach tracks that connect the stcr ge and dummy yards and are representative of a part of the approach tracks for the railway ards, oidurnrny trains corresponding to railway trains entering the main yards. My invention also contemplates the provision of automatic means to bring onto a dummy approach track simplify and perfect thefmethod and apparatus My invention, as illustrated in Patent 1,753,602,

MET D AND APPARATUS FOR DIRECTING THE SWITCHINGOFRAILWAY CARS AT a dummy foreach railway-carer vehicle correspondingly approachingv the main yard; In like the cars in a railway-train departing: from the main, yard,-'willbe moved Tonto and either left" manner, a train of dummies, whichcorres'pond to v upon'an approach track to "the dummy storage \1 yardfor the removal of the car indicating data or returned automatically to the dummy storage yard "1 To .make teams the initial set-u ofjthe 65 dummy train so that the dummies therein will i have feed elements correspondingin numberwith the control elements of therailwaytrain, where wheels serve as'the control element; it being well known that the number of control wheels on the railway rolling stock will vary widely,=*the 7 '1 dummies comprise a=plurality of elements which I term fwhe'el counters, each,representative' of a control wheel, and I provide separate tops suitable for assembly with agroup oi the desired number of wheel counters corresponding to the control wheels of the dummys respective, rail-'- waycar, a

In practice, a' railway train entering with 151 control wheels will feed into the corresponding dummy approach track 151 wheielcounters which 3 will'follow the traininto the dummyf'yard. As

the locomotive outs loose from the train and goes to the round house it will carryout withit wheel Y counters corresponding in number with sextontrol wheels,-leaving in-{the dummyyard t'ra'ck wheel counters exactly corresponding gin number with the control wheels on the" cars to',-be

car identifyingidatapan be assembled on such switched. Thereupon' the'diimmy topsj'carrying wheel counters to 'form therewith complete dummies, each comprising a group 'ofjwheel counters corresponding in number with the *fcontrol wheels on its respective railway car. f Obviously, most of the tops will :be of standard size, i. e.,

for special cars, such as cabooses having two control" wheels or heavy cars :or other rolling stock having six "or more ffcontrolf; wheels. When the play the data descriptive of their respectiverail way cars and each-will stand injthe dummy train in corresponding position to itsresp'ective 'car adapted to be assembled with a; group of four wheel counters, *but special .tops, are provided 106 dummies have beenthujs assembled, they will'disin the railway train Thereafter, the automatic 1 I 7 wheel counters and dummy tops and of means t trol wheels of the dummys respective railroad .car over suitable track} instruments inpassing from one to another section of the main yard tracks. a a My invention. also contemplatesutilizing the dummy wheel'counter to close through" itself a circuit to the feed mechanism which will automatically control the action of its step by step 3 feedpast a junction point in a dummy yard track.

, My invention'further contemplates the utiliza tion of frictionbelts or the like to coact'with the 'dummiesor their wheel counters to move them back and forth over a track section, there being movable stops to arrest the counters at, or a suitable distance from, a junction point between track sections, which stops, when withdrawn, permit the wheel counters to move past that stop point; 7 H Another feature of my invention resides in adapting the dummies or their wheel counters to rest lightly on belts thatserve by friction to move ,themabout the dummy yard, so that they will not have the energy to displace their stops as they en-v gage them, norwill. they undulywear the belts v as the latter slide under them while theyare held stationary. I 1

A further feature contemplates the provision of 7 guides or tracks for the dummies which at belt transfer points are angularly'disposed to the line of travel of the-belts andthus adapted to 'shift, the dummies laterallyfrom beltto belt Where such transfer is required. A further fea ture is to'adapt the belt drivingmeans always to move the belts, operating in the receiving and delivering track. sections, in the same direction while transferring dummies. A further feature of my inventionaisthe improved electrical apparatus which, responsiveto the passage-of control wheelsor elements from section to. section of the main yard, will control .and energize-the' mechanism for moving the dummies, so as to advance them or their wheel counters to and past a corresponding junction point between corresponding sections of the dummyyardl P My invention also]contemplates,associating with the, control for the dummy stops, feed mechanism, and driving belts, ofinovel electromagnetic meansselectively responsive to the di- 7 rection "of movement of a .car control element to control the'dire'ction of travel. of the belts that-are in immediate control of. the related dummy/2" I I 7 Another feature of'my present invention is the use of a single motor to drive through suitable in clutches the several belts that actuate the 'vd'urnmies or wheel counters, the clutches being automatically controlled to drive the various belts in whatever direction will eifect such a movement of dummies as. will cause them to follow the mo ement of their respective railway cars; My invention further comprises various'other novel details of construction and arrangements of parts, which are hereinafter more particular 1y described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification, and in which:

n Fig. 1 is a plan View of a typical znultiple'traclc railroad switch yard shown in very simple form. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the corelated miniature dummy switch yard, together with the approach tracks leading therefrom to-storage tracks, the dummy wheel counter feed mechanism and stops being fragmentally shown to avoid confusion.

Fig. 3 is a view showing the layout offolriving belts for operating the dummies movable over the "miniaturegswitch yard shown in Fig.

Fig. dis a View showing thecorresponding track section junction points of themain yard and dummyyard, with a suitable arrangement of cir cuits and electromagnetic means employed in the automatic control of the illustrated section of the f dummy yard.

Fig. 5 is a view corresponding to Fig. 4 showing the track circuit connections employed in the automatic control of dummies moving between the dummy yard and dummy storage. tracks.

Fig. 6 is an'enlarg'ed detail view of a portion of the dummy-yard showing switches and related wheel counter feed mechanism and stops in detail and illustrating in dotted outline'the single motor driven clutch control transmission for actuating the dummy driving belts shown. a I

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing corelated rotary switches which respectively record'the action of car Wheelspassing a railway track instrument and corresponding dummy movements.

Fig. 8 is aview showing the-circuit connec-' tions between a track instrument and the rotary switches it controls. I

Fig. 9 is asectional view taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. .6, showing the pulleys for-three juxtaposed belts and a typical magnetically operated clutch control for a belt drive. I 1

Fig. 10 is an enlarged View in side elevation showing an assembled dummy entering the.

dummy storage yard preparatory to the automatic removal of the dummy top'frcm its hase here formed by a group orwh'eel counters.

. Fig 11 is a plan'view of Fig. 19.

Fig. '12 is a detail View 01's main yard track switch and the circuits controlled thereby for correspondingly positioning the related dummy yard switch.

Fig. 13 is a cross sectional view taken on the lihesXIII-XIII of Fig. 6. I 1 Similar references refer 'to similar elements throughout the drawings.

The main switch yard conventionally illustrated inFig. 1 comprises approach tracks l and 12 over which the railway cars pass to the yard tracks 13, 14 and 15 by means of the ladder tracks- 16 and 17. This yard is providedwith a plurality of similar track instruments 'indicated'by the U numerals 18a, 18b, 18c, l8d,'l8e, 1812189 1811, 181i and 187', which will be later-described in detail by referenceto Fig. 8, and which are arranged adjacent to the several main yardtrack switches and: at any desired point in the mainyard switch tracks "or the approach tracks adjacent to the yard. In addition to this I provide similar switch boxes 19, 19a, 19b and 190 arranged adjacent to the main yard track switches which boxes are shown in'detail in Fig.'l2 and which control cir cuits which will he later described. r

It will be udeerstood that the tracks '13, i l and 15 are employed to conventionally illustrate a multiple track railway switching yard which may comprise anydesired number of tracks of any desired car holding capacity.-

ture dummy yard which will be installed in the yard masters' ofiice and which comprises the approach tracks 11a and 12a, correspondingto the main yard tracks 11 and 12, and ladder tracks 16a and 17a, corresponding to 16 and 17,-anddummy yard tracks 13a, 14a and 14b,- and 15a, corresponding to main yard tracks 13, 14 and '15. The dummy yard is provided with track switches 20, 21, 22 and 23 corresponding to the switch 'c ontrolling boxes 19, 19a, lscand 19b inthe main switch yard and controlling the passage of dummies fromlthe ladderltracks' to the yard tracks. These switches are shown as typical of a simple means for directing the dummies or dummywheel counters into the desired one of two intersecting dummy yard tracks in correspondence with the movement of a controlling railway car past. a switch inthe main yard. i

The approach tracks 11a and 120;, are'connected to intermediate storage tracks llb'and 122; which are brought together at a switch '24 where they. connect with the entrance track to the dummystorage yard 25 which'is fragmentally shown.

In the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2, what I have defined as tracks 13a, 14a, etc., are in reality I guides formed by the strips or plates 26 of-the dummy yard and the-spacedside edges of these guides are adapted to receive between them the rounded shanks 27 (see Fig. 10) of thedummy wheel counters whichare preferably in the form of spools each having an annular flange 28 and 29; the bottom flange 28 being slightly bevelled about its under marginal edge and the top flange havinga central socket extending down through the shank to receive a pin 30 carried by the demountable dummy top 31; These wheel counters v are free to pass along the guides referred to as tracks responsive to their engagement with a plurality of friction driving belts arranged under the guides as is illustrated more clearlyin Fig. 13. Fig. 3 shows the following arrangement of belts suitable for the miniature dummyyard illustrated in Fig. 2.

wide belt 121 works opposite that portion of the ladder track 16a opposite switch 21; a'wide belt occupies the same, relation in track 16a to the switch 20. In like manner wide belts '122 and 123 work under ladder track 17a opposite'switches belt to belt. In traversing this ladder track 17a to the, right a wheel counter will shift from belt 113a onto belt 123 and then onto beltil22, and

finally'onto belt 112a, or vice the opposite direction. I

Several belts are indicated by thefnumerals versa if moving in 111a and 112a whichbelts are arranged and adapted to carry the wheel counters or dummies about the approach tracks 11a and 12a and de-' liver them into the intermediate storage tracks 11b and 12b; the belts lllb. and ll2b will de-.

liverthe wheel counters tothe wide belt 124 at the switch 24, which belt 124 will in turntransferto The belts 113a. and 115a underlie tracks 13a and 15a and work between the switches i in said respective tracks; belts 114a and 1141) underlie the tracks 14a and 1412 respectively. A-

or from the belt carrying :the dummies into or out of the storage yard track 25;

The several belts are of the endless type, each.

having suitable end pulleys which areomitted from'the showingv in Fig. 2, such pulleys being however illustrated in Fig. 9 where 32 represents a narrow pulley. for one of the narrow belts and 33 indicates a wide'loosepulley and 33a a wide fast pulley'for the'wide belts, such as 122 and 123.1 1

Where corela'ted belts for tracks 111a'or;112a,' are. arranged at right angles to each other,-. to

facilitate the transfer of wheel counters or dum- :mies fromone to another, the pulleys of one belt are arranged to underlie the top flight of the adjacent belts, this being indicated in dotted lines,

Fig. 3. Theupper flight of each belt rests ona'nd issupported by the table surface 34. The elements 26 forming the dummy tracks, are shown in the form of plates or barsjspaced toform the dummy track guides and supported onfillerblocks '35 that rest upon the table surface .34 and form between them guides for the several belts. Such an arrangement is more clearly shown in Fig. '13. .The upper flight only of the belts rests upon the supporting surface 34;the lower flights"re-' the support 34, and the pulleys are. disposed under openings 36 provided inthe surface 34 opposite each pulley so as to permit the endless belt to be assembled and disposed in the manner described provided for the several pulleys. l Each belt passes around a fast and a loose pul ley and in order to simplify'the shaft arrange- This arrangement is illustrated more clearly in Fig. 6, where the several Ope i s 36'are shownment, loose pulleys in'transverse alignment with a fast pulley are mounted on the driving shaft for the latter. This is illustrated in Fig. 9,- where the loose pulleys for thebelts 115a and 122 are.

shown mounted uponthe shaft 55 for the fast pulley 33a for drivingbeltl23.

I prefer to use, a single continuously'running motor to drive all the belts and in Fig.3 I show diagrammatically one arrangement of a transmis sion suitable to this end. Here the motor 40.

LID

drives by belts 41. and 42 the driving shafts 43 and 144 in opposite directions; There are eight additional driving shafts 43a, 43b, 43c 'and43d, all driven in the same direction as shaft 43 by the. connecting belts or chains shown, and shafts/14a.

44b, 44c and 440% all driven in the same direction as shaft .44 by the connecting belts or: chains shown. It willbe noted that the shafts 43a and' 44a, 43b and 441 etc.; are grouped-together in pairs and between each pair .is'a reversing clutch box 45. Such abox is shown in. detail in-Fig. 9

and comprises two idle sprockets 46 and4'7, each carrying a pin 48 anda grooved hub 49 .withwhich a forked arm 50-of its respective bell crank engages. Each crank 50 carries an armature 51 .which coacts with one oftwo magnets 52 and 53. Fast on the shaft'supporting theloose sprockets 46 and 47 is a pin 54 with which one or the other ofthe reversely driven sprocket pins 48 will engage when shifted by the energization of its re- .spective magnet and thus a drivingshaft fora motor 40, and shaft 43 by chain 143 drives sprocket 46, and shaft 44 by chain l44 drives, sprocket 47. Whichever of sprockets ;.46;; and "47 counter shank a; contact89 or 90; One side of the battery or 'current' source is connected; by a lead 91, see Fig. 13, to the plate 34 and thence through the several bolts to the bars or plates 26' forming the several dummy track guides.

such eventit being understood that the magnets 85, '85s controlling the arms 80 and 88 are so wired as to be energized and de-energized simultaneously, the operation will be as follows. i The shank of the foremost wheel counter will cons x I are roundedso thattheywill roll against each tact with the point 89 and close the circuit through it to the opposite side of the track,w hich circuit will energize the two magnets 85, 85m and will retract the points 89-90 and advance'the' points 8182. 'I'hepoint 82 will-assume a posi-] tion to'stop the shank of the counter as itvis moved to the right by the "belts and when the counter shank strikes 82; it will be forced against the opposite side of the track and'a circuit closed which will energize magnet M, de-energize magdescription of circuits. Such. a movement is in.

reality a magnetically ,controlled. escapement movement which will positively feed a wheel counter shank past the stop 89+90 with' each;

' 85 cycle of operation of the escapement 'armsf80' and .88 and the points 81 and 82 are of such size. and so positioned that fithe'y will work between the spaced shanks of. wheel counterstwhen as sembled with a dummy top. 1

It is important to note that the dummy spool;

countersare not called upon to actuate'fthe escapement mechanism or any switch controlling it but merely to'close. a circuit which will energize the magnetic means for operating the es- 1 capement feed and in this particular my present invention is an improvement over the step-bystep feed mechanismshown in my Letters Patent No. 1,753,602, wherein the dummy was called upon 'to actuate the switchwhich would control its step-by-step feed. a

An assembled dummy will be best understood by reference to Figs. 10 and llzwherein the standard type of ,dummy comprising a top 31:

and fourwheel counters is shown. :.It will of course be understood that the top may be longer or shorter, according to the :number of wheel counters it must span in order-to providethe dummy witha wheel-counter for each controll wheel of the=railway vehicle itrepresents. As shown in the above figures; four similar wheel counters are grouped together and pins 30 carried by the top 31 areinserted loosely in the socketsof the end counters of the group. 'Thisholds all four counters in assembled relation and leaves the top free to; be lifted therefrom when engaged by the inclined belts 72, see Fig. 10, which will pull the pins upwardly out of the shankopenings in which'they fit so loosely that they will not bind by reason of the slight, cocking action resulting from the inclined lifting belts engaging the normally horizontally disposed Whenthe separation of thetop from the' wheel counters forming a dummy occurs, the belts supporting the wheel counterswill be drivenin the in the main yard.

the tracks by. the engagement 2:; under the track guide's'.

Each dummy top carries a spiffgiplatedla same direction as the belts '72 and the wheel counters will be helddown from being lifted from j their was" engaging the underside of a removabletag31bwhich carries the' way billorfcar descriptive. data. Thespring presses.the tab against 'alip 31c formed by overturning one end offfthe top plate 31 Thepinso3v0 depend from hubs 30a,

similar to fianges 2 9 on the whelrcount'ers and having their upper endsreduced and riveted:

throughtheplate 1 31. h v 5 z V The shanks and. flanges of. the wheel counters other and against the track guides, thus reducing friction to a minimum. The flanges of the wheel.

countersspacethe shanks 'sufiiciently for the V Assu ingthat wheel counters have been sembled in a dummy trackinnumber'corre escapernent feed-ffmechanism to work 7' between them in the manner above described.

sponding to the control Wh e f? train of railway cars, the tops intended to be assembled with such wheel countersican be-placed in proper sequence in any suitable carrier and with one movement engaged with the wheel counterssince ice the abutting tops and the abutting counters will permit the top pins to drop freely into the-ap I I propriate wheel counter sockets and thus awhole train of dummies can be assembled in one operas tion and in this manner there can be an immediate check-as to-whether thereare any odd wheel] counters left, inwhich event a mistake has been made and a recheck should-be made, of the cars Y The trackson which the dummies travel about,

dummy wheel counters cannot be lifted out ex.-

the storage 1 yard. J By this .arrangement the ,the dummy yard are continuous tracks and the wheel counters cannot be accidentally or misplaced while in use in thedummy" switch yard;

Referring to Fig. 12, shows; main yard switch 1l9b which. as it is thrown, will'r'o'ck an arm 92 Which carries a contact that will close the cir cuit from wire 93 to one or the ot her' of wires 9.4

or 95, according to the position of the switch. 1

,Thisaction in the arrangement;illustratedcontrols the corresponding movement ;of' the-similarly placed dummyyard track switch; and the same for the several switch boxes-19,. 19a, etc,

' The dummy yard track switchesare all similar and thedescription of one will applyto all. Be: ferring to the switch 23, Fig. 6, it is pivoted to move about the vertical axis 96 journalled in top other carrying the aimature for the magnet 99,

' 34 an d having an armature 97 fast thereon and engaged'on one side-by a. spring 98 and on the .135 I The springnormallyholds. the switch in full line position shown, but the magnet whenienergized' will shift the switch to open track 14a;

I While, fo pur o es of illustration, a. swat s g the dummy yard track isthe simplest rneans of directing the dummies into one of two branch tracks, I nevertheless again. wish to emphasize the fact that it is merely typical of -any suitable means that willcause the wheel counters :tofollowunder .direction by their control wheelsinto the desired" track,'; which -may be donemag other equivalent 'mechanical netically or by means. I v I I have already stated that at; suitablepoints in the .Inain yard tracks li dispose whatl call-track instruments. As these instruments areall'similar the description of one'will apply toall. 'Referring'fto Fig. 8, I here show a section of main linetrack rail 180 and alongsidegthis are disposed two arms 101 and; lola'whichare adapted to b'eengaged and displaced by a passing control wheel on a railway vehicle. As" illustrated, they will be depressed and rockedabout their I horizontalshafts 102 and-102a, which are join-- nalled in bearings'103 and 103s at opposite ends ofa base plate 104. The inner ends of' these shaftsenter a switch box 105 and coil springs lofi and 106a extend from the switch box in opposite direct-ionsto engage the arms to hold them in 5 extend from the switch box to the hubs on the elevated position: Flexible sleeves 107 and 107a arms 101 and 101a. The ends of the shafts entering the switch "box" carry switch points. adaptedto:close the switches 108 and-108a,.respectively, 20

Theseswitches have one side-grounded and theother connected bythe-leads 109 and 109a respectively to the magnets A and B. The arms lolfand-lola are so disposed relatively that a wheel passing to the right having engaged arm "101 will engage IOlabefore disengaging 101, causing the relay magnet "A to be energized and held energized until after'B has been energized. While this accomplishes the sameresult as the track instrument described in my Letters-Patent afore 'saidyit has the advantage of substituting electrically operated selective mechanism, that can 'be placed in'a protected position in the yardmasters oflice', for mechanically operated selective mechanism that according to my former inventionform'ed a part 'of the track equipment and was therefore placed in the main yard tracks where it was exposed to weathera'nd rough usage.

My present form of track instrument is rugged and proof against access of water or snow, since the flexible sleeves 107, 1070. are waterproof themselves and will prevent moisture gaining ac- I cess to the switch box and protect the circuits against accidentalclosing. v

In Patent No.ll,753,602, I described a pair of interconnected rotary switch members which were advanced step-by-step, one in response, to the passage of control wheels over 'atrackinstrumentand the other to the corresponding step-by-step feed of a dummy wheel representative element past the. corresponding step-by-step feed mechanism-in the dummyyard. I have simplified the type of rotary switchto be used in I this connection'and illustrate'the same in Figs.

1' against an adjustable stop C 91 v 76'. by the'rnagnet the armature will act to open a 7 'and'B. Here each track instrument controls a pair of magnets 'C and D which'operate similar rotary switchest Describing one of these switches, its magnet C controls a bell crank armature C which car-' 'riesa pawl 'C that coacts with the ratchet wheel C and feeds it one step for each energization of themagnet'. [A spring stopdog C prevents the backmovementof the ratchet which, as it moves,

advancesa contact arm C over asemi-circular contact series C The arm is connected towire C and the several contacts C are respectively connected to corresponding contacts of a similar corelated rotary switchshown'in' Fig; '7 where IIsh ow the several contacts C of the instrument J controlled by the magnet C connected respective- 70' merit controlled by the magnet E. The armature ly;to the corresponding contacts E ofthe instru- CJh'as a' lug- C which engages a leaf spring C that tends to hold it away from its magnet and When moved magnetD will have "corresponding parts, and'itscontacts D will be connected to asimilar -rotary switch controlled by the magnet F (Figwl) spring 7 contact arm C breaking circuit I which a relay magnet tobe later describedr interposed. The mechanism-controlled by then By reference to Fig. 7 it will be observed witlr respect to the pair of-co-ordinated rotary switches shown, that their respective switch armsare onconnected' contacts. and therefore .a circuit through switch arms E and C to the relay.

magnet G will be closed and-thisfmagnetwill hold theseveral contacts controlled by it in open position, but whenever the. switcharms E and C are not on connected contacts the magnet'G is de-energized and the several contacts cone trolled by it spring'closed. I P Having described in detail to. r

the various instru mentalities utilized in carrying out the auto-.- matic operation of the dummy yar'd, I will nowdescribe the magnetic means and their control-* ling circuits which ,are utilizedyattention' being first called to Fig. 4. r I I This illustrates the group of circuits'that are controlled by a switchllQb and the pair of track instruments adjacent thereto in the main yard, such group being typical of other like groups which 'need'not therefore be described. In this view the tracli'instrnments 18 and 18g and-the switchcontact box 1913', as shown in Figi l, are the ones iliustrated,-'and I show circuits I09 and l09aconnectin corresponding switch terminals in the two track instruments, the former leading to the magnet A and the latter to the magnet 13,

and thence to the ground or return circuit.

* Magnet A when energized will controlalseries of switches whichfor convenience will bediswill therefore be referred to as switch A switch A etc; but to avoid-confusion such distinguishtinguished by numerals as coefficients which pro- 'gress in" numerical order from the magnet and ing marks will not be applied to the switches in Figs. 4 and 5 of thedrawings asv any particular. switch referredto can be readily found by locating its control magnet by the letter and counting the switches therefor corresponding to theletters numerical coefiicient. Thus, in Fig. 8,.when magnet A is energized switch Anext to. the magnet against spring. action which'will cause the switch,-

when the magnet isde-energized, to open or close the circuit :it'respectivelyj controls according to its relative position to the 'contactwith which each switch .coacts.

Assuming a car wheelto be traveling-to the right on track 100, it will first actuate arm 19.1, close switch'108 passing current over wire 109 to energize magnet A which will close switch'A. a1

lowingcurrent from any suitable source to flow to switch I which normally stands closed and Whenthe carwhe'el moves onto and actuates arm thence to magnetH which istherebyenergized. 7

101a, itwill close switch'lOSa, passcurrent over wire 10911 to magnet'B which will close switch B passing currentto the then open switch H},

which leaves magnet I de-energized, and also passing current through'the then closed switch H on through normally'closed switch C to magnet H, which is then energized, through switch 108. ,Nhen switch 108 opens, responsive to the passing of the car wheel. offjits arm' 101, the magnet B will be held energized through the closed switch 13 until switch C is opened by the armature C but magnet A will be tie-energized; y

' switch A will spring closed allowing current to l is pass from switch 13 via H and A to magnet ,C,

thereby actuating armature C -opening switch C de energizing magnet l-l opening switch 11 de-energizing magnet C whereupon the spring retractionof armature C will advance the contact arm C one step andthenrelease switch C Had the car wheel stopped before releasing arm .101 or had it backed off of 101, thenmagnet o would never have been energized andtherefore only where a control wheel passes from contact arm 101 onto arm10la and 1 releases arm 101 does it cause the contact arm C to advance one step, and after it has advanced the arm C if the wheel stops and rolls back to depress arm 101,

the action will be the sameas if the wheel had approached the tracl; instrument fro'mthe right 1 hand side.

When a wheel aproaches from the right, it first depresses arm 101a,closes 108a, energizes magnet B, closes switch B fl'passes current through switch I H and energizes magnet I. After actuating arm 101, switch 108 isclosed, energizing magnet A, closing switch A and passing" current throughv switches l and D to mag-net I, and assoon as arm 101a isreleased, magnet B is de-energized but magnet I is held energized through switch L D and current flows through closed switch A through 1 B to magnet!) which actuates its armature D open switch D de energizes magnet 1, opens switch 1 dc-energizes magnet D and permits its spring retracted armature to advance contact arm D5 one step. After the west-bound carhas depressed arm 101a and then depressed. arm 101 and finallyreleased arm lola, itis immaterial whether it stops or passes on b'ecausethe track instrument has then completed the regis ter of a passing wheel and contact arm 13 has been advanced one step. On reverse movement after'ar'mlOl' has been depressed and then arm 1 01a has been depressed and finally arm 101 has been released then the reverse; passage' -of a.

= wheel hasbeen registered, the magnetfarm C has been advanced one step, and it is immaterial whether it would remainjonflilla' or passes on; The essential point is that tor a wheelfto register 1 both arms of the track"instr .iment must be depressed and the one first depressed mustlbe released to complete the actuation of a registering instrument C or D which will be selectively actu-.-

-;; gizes the magnet C closed until 'thellatters arma-t ture has moved the full stroke'necessary to actu; ate contactarm C Iinsure the fastest possible reliable operation for such contact arm, as the circuit to' magnet C can thus be broken at the instant "it has accomplished the function for which it was energized.

Each rotary switch arm C 1) etc, controlled by a yard track instrument, such as 18b tov 18h inclusive (Fig. l) ,hasassociated with it 'a similar rotaryswitch, such as shown at in Fig.'7,uand

I will-now describe-the manner in'whi'ch a switch such as E? responds to the escapement'co'ntrolled j .fee'd ofdummy wheel counters past the junction 'point inthe dummy yard track whichit controls".

Referring'tdFigs. 4. and .7, I show magnetsC and E controlling one pair of associated rotary switches and magnets D and F controlling another pair, one pair responding selectively to fcontrol wheel travel in one direction and the other pair to a reverse direction of control wheel traveL' As before stated, the corresponding contacts of a at 1 pair of switcheslC E of Fig. 7) are electrically connected, hence when the switching arms C E stand on corresponding contacts they are elec-' tricallylconnected, and magnet G is energized. This magnet controls a group. of wire switches whichwill be referred to as G G etc, the coefli-i cient :designating .the relative position" of "the switch counting away-from the magneuas seen in'Fig'I.

In like manner the switch arms 13 F will con-' trol the. energization of a magnet; J similar" to G and controlling nine j correspondingly designated switches (1 ,3 etc. The switches G G etc; J

J etc, are all spring-pressed to closed position but arenormally held open by the 'energization of their respective magnet Gor J." When a con trol? wheel passing; to 'therighh actuates track. instrument 18 the rotary switch armC will be,"

advanced'one contact from the position shown in Fig. '7, thus breaking the connection to arm E de-energizing magnet G, allowing the closing ofy the switches G to G un der its control with the;

g current to flow through no closed switch K controlled by the then de-energized j nagnet K, to clutch magnet 53a .(Fig. 14)

following results. f

Switch G will allow 1 which operates belt 11 a driving" it to the right;

switch Cr? allows current to flow to clutch magnet 5 53to drive belt 123 to the right; switch G allows I current to ,fiow directly toc1utch magnet 53b for driving belt 122 to the right; switch Gjjallows current to flow through then closed switch K2 t0 magnet 76 (Big. 6) 1 to retract stop '73, thereby" permitting dummy wheel counters to move with thebelts described past the stop 73 andinto engagement withescapement contact 89-switoh G5 connects magnet'L in a circuit leading to contact 89 and open at that point until closed by a circuit energizes magnet L, closes switch L and thuscompletes a circuit to energize magnet E through switch G". When switch L closes it allows current to flow direct to the magnets 85, 85:12, operating the escapement contact and feed elements 81, 82, 89, 90 tolet the passing wheel counter moveinto engagement with contact 82,-

closingacircuit from the track through- 82 to switch G thence to energize magnet M. When switch L closes,ia circuit is completed through switch M1 to hold magnet L energized until magnet M is. energized as aforesaid and switch 'M opened. The functionsof G and J and J 9 willbe described later.

G and also of When magnet L is de-energized, it opens switch L breaks the circuit above described to magnet E andallows the latters armatureE responsive to spring retraction, to advanoe contact arm E oneastep and bring it again into circuit with arm C5 and again energize magnet G to open the switches it controls,thereby stopping the belt drivesdescribed, and resetting the stop 73.

. i Switch L being opened, dc-energizes magnets wheel counter assuming position between ,contaot 89'and the track and, whenso closed, this 85; 85:0 and retracts the escapement elements '81, 82, 89, cc to the position shownin Fig. 4.

' these'escapernent elements thus move back and forth in one 1 cycle, they permit the feed" past them oionedummy wheel counter.- The cycle. of escapement and stopcperation'above described occurs for the feed past such escapement of each wheel counter and the feed operations will continue as long as the arm C is ahead of E by the action of the appropriate track instrument by a passing fcontrol wheel.

It may happen that C will be advanced ahead of E5 and the actuation of E5 to catch up will have to be' deferred because E? cannot be ad-- vanced until the belts are running in the direction to bring thewheel counters into contact with contact 89, but when this occurs the apparatus .will .startadvancing E until it catches up with C -When the control wheel approaches the track instrument 18f ofFig. 4 from the right and presses it, arm 1') is advanced one step instead of arm"C magnet J is tie-energized in. placeof magnet G in. the operation above described, magnets 52, 52c and 52?) are energized in place of 53,

53c and 53%), thereby reversing the drive. of belts 113a, '122 and i123; circuits are completed to 81 insteadof 82 and to EfQinStead of 89; switch K takes the action of switch K and'rotary switch F5 takes the place of E f The inter-relation of the parts controlled by therailway track'switch '19b(Figs. 4 and 12),

will now he described. The switch is set to'con meet 93 to 94, passing current to magnet N to'. open switch-Ni and close switchlq Before the track switch wasthrown, the'circu'it was from 93.

to 95' and the-magneto. Duringthe throw of pulleup-andslow to-release -magnet Q, to the magnet P. to hold it energized until magnet Q is de-energizedas follows. The opening of switch P breaks the circuit to magnet R,'-which is slowto-release like magnetQ. hence switches Q and "R will be slow in opening one afterjthe otherso that magnet P is held energizedilong enough (regardless of a quick throw oi-he track switch) to insure the -iollowing operations responsive to the opening or closing of'the' switchesit controls. ssuming the track switch is thrown and magnet N has closed switch N current will flow from N? v to switch P which stands open until P is deenergized, whereupon current will flow to mag- I net Sand open switch S dc-energizing magnet switch23 (Fig. 6) to the position shown which corresponds 'to the position or" the track switch controlling. l blFigs. 4.- and 12). I i

Switch P when closed by the energization 'of magnet P, passes current to clutch magnetcZa which drives belt 113a to the. left, likewise the closing or switches P and P will energize the clutch magnets-52 and 520 respectively, drivin the-belts 123 and 114a to the left; the closing of switch P energizes magnet '26 to retract stop 73 in track 13a, and switch P likewisecontrols the magnet 76a; for the'stop 73am track 14a. Thus while P is energized during and shortly after the throw of themain yard switch at 19b, the stops.

72.1 and 73a will b retracted and the beltswillhave time to move any wheel counters that may be on belt 123 to the leftofthe stops 73, 73a, thus keeping them in the clear. at this switch 23.

Switches K and KI are connected to switch G controlling the belts underlying tracks 13a and Ma respectively. Likewise, switches K3 andK are connected on onev side to switch J and on the other side respectively to magnets 52a and 520 for moving said belts reversely to 53a and 530.

Likewise,- K and K are connected on one side to a common lead to G and J and. on the'other side are respectivelyconnected to stop magnets '76 and lfi'a.

It follows that as magnetK is energized or deenergized it will place magnet G or J selectively in control of the belts and stops for tracks 13a, 14a,

magnet K being energized or de-energized ac cording to the positionoi the track switch 1191 Switch K when closed by magnetK, allows current to pass through switc- S .to magnet K and holds it energized untilmagnet S is energized and opens switch S When the magnet K is energized, itenergizes switchthrow magnet 99 via K responsive to the throw of the switch 1153b. To prevent the'too quick throw of the switch 23 before the belts, responsive to the controlof magnet P, have moved the, dummy wheel counters to clear said switch, I int'erpose switches P and P in. the circuits tomagnetsK ands which control the action of magnet K and it i'cllowsthat while -magnet P is energized the circuits through switches W, P 'andO P are held open and thus the throw of the switch point p 23 cannot occur while magnet P holds the circuits closed that will cause the belts to 'movethe wheel counters to a cleared position. v

- When switch N is closed, switch 0 is open,

and 'vice versa, and thus one or the other will pass current through switch P 'or l5" to magnet which is connected to the then open switch P which, when closed, will energize ,magnet K.

Thus, magnet P will suspend" the closing of the circuits to throw dummy switch 23 untilde-energized; which cannot 'occur untilthe requisite belt movement, has taken place to move the dummies to clear switch23.

In Fig. 5 I show thecircuits that'respond to the track instruments in'theiapproach tracks for the. main switch yard, which control, they 'passage 'of dummy wheel counters across the intermediate storage tracks 11b and 121) from.

the dummy storageyard 25 into the approach I tracks Ila/12a, or from the said approach tracks into the intermediate tracks 11? 121), it being noted that wheel counters are preferably not moved automatically from tracks 11b; 12b into storage track 25 but are shipped therefrom by I track instrumentlSy' to magnets C and D which i are the same as those shown in Figs. 4and8 and are correspondingly numbered. As a control rotaryswitch arm F whicha1lows switch U to ing the circuit C to E andaopeningcircuit EE close the circuit through the then closed switch V controlled by magnet V, to magnet W, closingits switches of which switch W closes a circuit to clutch magnet'53d'c'ontrolling belt 125; W delivers current .to clutch magnet 53a for belt 124; switch W passes current to the magnet 760 when closeddelivers current through W tomagnet F; LL delivers current tov magnets a to" operate the escapement contacts and feed the wheel counter into position to closea circuit contact 82a and switch W to magnet MM to break the'circuit holding LL'energized, and open its switch LL to de-energiz'e magnet F and permit itscontact arm F to advance one. step. 7

As switch LL opens it breaks the circuit to magnets 85a permitting. retraction of the escapement feed elements.- As'arm'F advances a step, 1

it breaks a circuit through the rotary switch arm EE to the magnet X permitting its several switches to close, X passing current through! to magnet Y to close its switches, of which Y controlsdrive of belt 124 to the right, Y retracts stop 730, Y drives belt "11,219 to the right, Y drives belt 112a to the right, and Y Y and Y control the escapement' feed from track 12b to 12a through the switches controlled by magnets AL and AM, and as each wheel counter'passes.

such escapement feed through circuits similar to those already described the dummy controlled" as a wheel counter passes fromtrack 25 to 12b;

rotary switch arm EE E and C will be advanced together one step which, assuming rotary switch arm F has only advanced one step, will restore the circuit from to the magnet X. s Note, that magnets EE and'E are incircuit andhence Elli and E f always move together. Also by causing C to move with E responsive to the above described dummy movement, the" circuit between these arms will not be broken.

Now one dummy wheel counter will have been passed fromtrack 25 across track 12?) onto track 12a, responsive tothe passing of one control wheel to the left across track instrument 187'.

To effect a wheel counter movement from'track' 12a to 12b responsive to a control? wheel passing track instrument 189' to the'right,'that instrument will, as describedin connection with' Figs.,4 and 8, cause arm C to advance one step,

breaking the circuitthrough E to a magnet Z,

112b and will actuate the escapement feed bei tween said belts one complete cycle to feed one wheel counter from track 12a to track'12b, there-. by placing said counter in what I term an intermediate storage track. Should it be'desired to dispense with the intermediate storage tracks, the belt 112a would then deliver to belt 124 under control of the escapement operated by magnetsv I of a control? wheel, constitute themaster con- "trol relays whichdrive the belts shown-inioppo fi 8512 at switch 24, instead of the escapement at the point of transfer between belts112a and 1121, and in such an arrangem'entI would have an automatic return of dummies direct to the storage yard. As the dummy wheel counter is fedpast the last mentioned escapement, a circuit tomag net AL is closed and then 'opened,causing arms E and EE to be advanced one step and reswrf F to EE and thence advance arms D and F in unison aseach counter to F to de-energize magnet X ,and energizing magnet Z. Before Z opensitsswitches Z passes current to magnet AZ which is a slow-to release magnet and will hold a. circuit closed through .80. AZ togmagnetV long enough, after the opening .of (switch Z to' allow ma'gnet l f to'hold itself energized through a circuit from switchyvv through, switch X magnet X being de-energized have been ale-energized bytheadvance ;of arm,-

EE to break circuit to EE I If thecounters have entered track 12b fromtrack 2 5, the mag-,. net X willliave been derenergized bythe ad- Vance, of arm Fibreaking the-circuitF to EE to imagnetX. WhenX is de-energized by the step-up of arm EE magnet V will be held ener-r,

gized while X is deenergized. When X is de-Q energized by [the step-up of arm F m'agnet- .V will remain de-energized. As a result ofjthis arrangement, so long as any wheelcounter's re main in track 12b that have movedthereinto from 12a, magnet V will be held energized and will cause the counters. required to be 'fed into track'l2a'to be taken from those. standing in track 121). until such supply is' exhausted which will de-energize magnet X and cause 'further' counters to be drawn from track 25 across .track 121). When V is de-energized, the passage of wheels over 187' toward the yard will give the action already described, stepping up D for thejwheel Wheel circuit through Fit'o" U, closing fswitch U and r passing current through the then -closed"switch' a V to magnet Y which will control movement of wheel counters from-12b'to 12a. and stepup F armsEE E and C =wil1"stand. When it is desired to shi'ft'dummies or counters from track 12b into storage track 25; 'switch" 20l 125 t is closed, energizing magnet Ta'nd'closing its several switches which 'will'cause theJfeedof counters on be1ts 112b, 124 and 125 p'aststopf73c and the escapement opposite switch 24, and will s enters track .25," thus, preventing the breaking of the circuit D to F to magnetfl fijas U a counters enter storage.

an inclined'track 272 to a level highenou'gh to detach pins 30hr the dummy tops from engage merit with the wheel counters and to store the dummy I tops. ;As allrotary switcharms move' they overlap adjacent contacts before passing from'onefto another (see Fig. 8). 1

InFig. 4 the magnets G an J under selective" energization responsive'to direction of movement site directions and hence must not be operative at the same time. When the switchesco'ntrolled" -'by J are closed, those controlled by, G shouldbef held open, therefore switch J is 'usedto pass cur-1. 1;

as each counter passes from 12b into 12d and; a

.1 magnets Y and AJ, which latter has correspond- I magnet G inassociationwith the circuits controlled byj'thefadjace'nt. track instruments 18h.

"'5 and 181" on the right of the instrument l 8g shown.

.In like manner switch G and G control similar circuits to magnetsJ and 'BJ for the same pur ros s-y 1 fLikewise in Fig. 5,,switches Z andZ pontI l ing associations with-those of the magnet AG above'des'cribed'Likewise switch Y controls ma'g'netZ, 'Any belt-is controlled as to direction i by magnets such as G and J, Fig. i, and such op-' V posed control -mag nets will prevent opposing drives seeking-to act on the samebelt at the Sametime. I In this specifica'tionthe term dummy? is meant'to apply to'anyrepresentation movable on or relativelto themini'a ture tracks responsive to the movement of a railway vehicle in the railway switch yard,.whether having associated therewith 'a't'op adapted to display identifying data or '--not.- 7 While I have shown-my invention in but. one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited,but'i's susceptible of vari ouschanges and modifications, without departing from thespirit thereof, andI desire, therefore, that only. such limitations shall be placed thereupon; as areimposed by the prior art as are specifically. set forth inthe appended claims.

' What I claim is:--. V 1;:The-method of indicating .the position and ,35-movement of railway cars in switching yards,

which consists in causing individual wheel counters to move about tracks in a dummy yard corresponding in track arrangement with the car switchingyard-groupingsaid counters, ,and'as- 40 -sociat'ing with eachgroup identifying. data relating to a particular railway car in said yard.

2. The method of indicating by remote control the position and movement of railway cars in a m mainryard which consists in providin a dummy --'yard, causingindividual wheel counters to follow automatically about adummyyardthe move- 7 'ments of their respective control, car wheels about the main yard, providing dummy topseach of its respectivecar. 1 v i 3', The-method of indicating-at a remote point theidentity, locaticnand movement of individual ""railway vehicles in amultipletrack switch yard, I

'. a miniaturedummy yard having a traclrage and,

which consists in providing a miniature yard i corresponding in track arrangement to the switch yard, providing in the miniature yard a plurality of, counters for indicating the wheels of railway vehicles' in theswitch yard, causing said coun-' ters tofollow in the miniature yard the movement of the railway vehicle wheels in the switch yard, grouping said counters according to the grouping of wheels on each of said vehicles, and

.65 assembling with said groups in the miniature yard data to identify the; corresponding veof a railway switching yard, which consists in causing dummies to move about the dummy yard tracks. following. their respective railwayl cars about the railway yardtracks. and. causing the .hausted. f

dummies to move automatically from storage tracks into the dummy yardas the railway cars theyare torepresent'respectively enter the rail way yard. 7

5. The herein described method of indicating the position aridmovement of'railway cars in switching yards, which consists in providing wheelcounters, each representative of a railway" car Wheel, providing a dummy switch yard and'a dummy storag rd, causing. wheel counters "to move from saidstorage yardinto said'dumrny, switch yard. responsive to the entryof railway car wheels into the related mainswitch" yard,

and causing said wheel counters.to'move'ahout the'dummy yard following their respective'car wheels.

6."The herein described method of indicating the-position and movement of railway:cars-in move'into said 'dummyswitch yard from" 1 intermediate storage track until the supply in" the intermediate storage. trackis exha'ustedbeforecausingdummies to move fromsaid dummyv storage yard inltothe dummy switch yard.

'7. The herein described method of operating a railway switch. yard, which consists in providing' a dummy yard corresponding to the switch yard, providing dummies in the dummyyard V corresponding'in location and identity to indi-- vidual cars inlthe switch yard, providinga dummy storage yard and dummies therein, providing intermediate storage 1 track between the dummy yard and the dummy storage yard; causing vdummies to move intojtheintermediate storage track from thedummyiyard responsive to cars leaving theswitch yard, causing dummies to movefinto said dummy-yard from said intermediate storage ,5 track until the supply in said trackis exhausted,

and causing dummies to move from thedurnmyv storage yard through the intermediatestorage.

track-to thedummy yard responsive to the ensupply in the intermediate. storage'track is ex- 8. .In an apparatus of they character descrihedf a dummyyard having tracks and'switches representative of the tracks and switchesjof a yard, adummy storage yard, and means to col lect dummies; representative of a train-of pars leaving; said mainyard, adjacentto said storage .yardready to be shifted into said storage yard;

9. 'In'an apparatusof the characterdescrib tracks. connect, and automatio means to dummies from the storage track into appropriate approach tracks responsive to-the approach of railway cars to the main yard."

'10. In an apparatus'pfthe characterdescribed, 1.

a miniature dummy yard having track and switch arrangement corresponding to a main yard, dummies, means to cause-the dummies to move automatically about the dummyyard responsive to 1 the movement of their respective railway-cars 115 about the main yard, an approach track for'the dummy yard, an intermediate storage track into intermediate storage track 1m storage 'ard, means responsive to entry of vehicles into the main yard to effect movement of the main yard of a fcontrol,'wheel on a railway 11. In an apparatus according to'claim 10, au-

tomatic means to bring dummies out of the storage yard across the intermediate storage track and into the approach track, and automatic means to bring dummies from the approach track into the intermediate storage track.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a dummy yardhaving tracks andswitches representative of a main yard, a dummy storage yard, wheel counters in the storage yard each adapted to represent a control wheel on a railway ve hicle, approach tracks leading into the main yard, corresponding approach tracks leading into the way vehicle, approach tracks leading into the main yard, corresponding, approach tracks leading into the dummy yard and connected to the wheel. counters into the dummy yard, and separable tops adapted to be assembled with groups of wheel counters in the dummy yard for representing vehicles in the main yard.

14. In an apparatus ofthe character described, a dummy yard having tracks and switches representative of a main yardga dummy storage yard,, wheel counters in the storage yard each adapted to represent a controlfiwheel on a railway. Vehicle, approach tracks leading into thenmain yard, corresponding approach tracks leading into the dummy yard and connected to the storage yard, and means responsive tothe passage into vehicle, to, move a wheel counterv from the storage yard into said dummy yard.

15. 1 In an apparatus of the character described, a miniature dummy yard having track and switch arrangement corresponding to a main yard, dummies, means to cause the dummies to move automatically about the dummy yard'responsive to the movement'of their respective railway cars about the main 'yard, approach tracks for the dummy yard, intermediate storage tracks into a which said approach. tracks lead, a storage track 1 withwhich said intermediate storage tracks connect, automatic means to bring dummies out of the storage track across the intermediate storage tracks and into the approach tracks,

automatic means to bring dummies from the approach tracks into the intermediate storage tracks, and a manually controlled means for shifting dummies from the intermediate storage tracksinto the storage track.

16. In an apparatus of the character described,

a miniature dummy yard corresponding to a main yard and having approach tracks leading to and connecting with a storage track, dummies mov-,

able about said dummy yard and comprising separable tops, means to force the dummies into the storage track, and means to automatically disengage the dummy tops from the dummies.

17. In' an apparatus of the character described,

a miniature dummy yard corresponding to a main yard andhaving approach tracks leading to and connecting with a storage track, dummies movable about said dummy yard and comprising separable tops, means to force the dummies into the dummy yard tracks If If the storage track, means in the storagetrack which automatically d isengagelthe dummy tops from the dummies, and a storage track ceive and support said dummy tops. I r j 1 18. In an apparatus of the character described,

those in a main yard, dummies in 'saiddummy yard representative of railway cars in said main yard, a dummy storage yard having dummies therein, a plurality of tracks connecting the dummy yard with said storage yard and representative of the several approach tracks tothe to ref-l" adummy yard having tracks representative of main yard, and means responsive to the entry"- into the mainyard of a railway car' over any approach track to withdraw a dummy to repre; sent it from said common storage yard, and de-" liver same into theappropriate dummy yard" 19-. In an apparatus'of thecharacter described, a miniature yard having a track arrangement corresponding to the mainyard, dummies representative ofrailway 'cars movable about said miniature yard tracks, endless belts underlying portions of said tracks and adapted to support the dummies in apositionto be guided' by the tracks, the tracks at said portions being-arranged transversely of the belts 'to effect a lateral transfer of dummies from belt: to belt, and automatic means responsive to a. railway cars, movement, to control'the movement of the dummies at transfer points. a

20. In anapparatus according to claim 19, in

which the miniature yard comprises ladder tracks and'switches interposed therein, each ladder tra'ck'being disposed transversely across 'a plurality of belts and adapted to transfer a dummy from. belt to belt as it traversesthe ladder track, and said automatic control means being disposed opposite each transfer point inthe ladder track.

"21- In an apparatus. or the character described,

i a miniature yard representative of a1 mainyard,

dummies. representative. 01 railway cars and adapted to. move about said dummy yard, and means automatically responsive to the. movementof railway cars in the main yard to control the movement of, dummies past a corresponding point in the dummy yard, said means comprising an. escapement feed for moving a dummy stepby-step, the escapement being: controlled by electric. circuits established through the dummy being actuated thereby. p .1 1

22.. An apparatus according.to"claim., 2'1, in

which the said escapement. feedtcompjrises con tacts adapted by, engagement with the dummy in' feeding it to close said controlling circuit. through the dummy to its tracks, and in which] contacts.

23. In adummy switch yard having a track arrangement similar to a main railway yard and dummies representative of railway vehiclesmovable over the dummy yard tracks, means automatically responsive to the movement "of a railway vehicle past a given point in the main yard for feeding a dummy past a given point in the dummy yard, said means comprising a magare insulated fromv the,

netically'actuated escapement having wedge coni tact means on one side of the trackand spaced complemental wedge contact means on the oppositeside of the track, magnetic means to move said contact means crosswise of the track simultaneously, and elements on the dummy adapted to be engaged and actuated by the wedge means, substantially as described.

24. In an apparatus of the character described,

a miniature yard, dummies movable thereover,

' a plurality of actuators for moving the dummies pellers adapted to be driven by saidrnotor about "said yard, a common motor, reversible" drive transmissions therefrom to said actuators,

and mechanism controlled automatically by the movement of railroad cars in a main yard to control selectivelythe direction of drive of said transmissions.

25. In combination, aminiatureyardhaving a,

plurality'of'switch tracks and dummies movable thereover, a motor, a pluralityof dummy prothrough atransmission comprisinga clutch controlled reversible drivefor each propeller, and means automatically controlled by'the movement f of railroad cars in amain switch yard to control selectivelysaid clutch controlled drives.

26. In combination, amain switch yard track instrument 7 comprising displaceable switches adapted to be actuated by a passing car successively according toits direction of travel, circuits from said switches, remote electro-magnetic mechanism controlled by said-switch circuits and comprising relay magnets and corelated @rotary switches, a miniature switch yard similar to the main yard, dummies movable over said miniature switch yardfand actuators, for the dummies controlled as todirection and-operation by said electro-magneticmechanism, I

27. 'An apparatus according. to claim 126, in

' which the dummy yard track switchesare; provided with, and controlled by, electro-magnetic means associated with, the electro-magnetic mechanism for moving the dummies, in com bination with dummyswitch control circuits having make-and-brealr switches operable by a rail way car according to the trackittakes ata switching point.

l 28. In an apparatus of the character described,.

' -'a dummy .switchyard having tracks, dummies movable along said tracks, switches to direct the dummies, friction drives to advance dummies past a switch, means to stop the dummies in a cleared position relative to said switch,'and remote con-z. trol means to release said step means and throw said switches selectively. 1

29. In an apparatus of. the. character described,

a dummy switch yard having tracks, dummies movable along said-tracks, switches to'direct the I dummies, friction drives to: advance dummies past a switch, meansto stop the dummies in acleared position relative to said: switch, remote control means to' release said stop means andtherefrom, a similar track and switch track in.

the dummy yard, means" responsive to throwing the switch. in the main yard for throwing'the 'switch'in the dummy yard, dummiesv in the dummy yard, movable along the tracks, and

'means-operabie' upon throwingv a switch in the main yard to move dummies intotthe. clear with respect to the switches in the dummy yard.

.31. In anapparatus of the character described,

a mainswitch yard,ja dummy yard, a track the main yard having a switch track diverging therefrom, a similar track and switch track. in the dummy yard, means responsive. to throwing the switch in theinain' yard for throwing the switch;

inxthe dummy yard, dummies in the dummy yard movable along the tracks, means operableupon I throwing a switchinthe main yard to movedummiesintothe clear with respect to'the switches in thedummy yard, and automatic means for delaying thethrowing or" .a switch in the dummy yard until said, dummies have been moved into the clear. I

3 2. In an apparatus of the character described, a main yard, a dummy switch yard, tracks in the dummy yard having switches, dummies movable along said tracks. automatically responsive'to movements of corresponding cars in the main yard, electro-magnetic means-to effect such automatic dummy operation comprising dummy stop means in the dummy tracks adjacent to and opposite each switch, and a reversible drive. to F move dummies past a switch} under controli-of said stop means. 33. In a system of the character described a main yard, adumrnyfswit'chyard, trackshaving responding cars in a main yard,'electro-magnetic means to effect such automatic 'dummyoperation comprising dummy stop means in the dummy tracks adjacent to and opposite-each switch, and

-' a reversible drive tomove dummiespast a switch 01313051136 thBSWltCfICOmplflslIlg relatively movthe dummies-to under control of said stop means, the stop means able elements which 'coact' with feed them step-by-step past it; V

- a LEONM. GIBBS.

switches, dummies movable along said tracks automatically responsive "to movements of cor- 

